Lift-bridge



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1'.

L. M. ,FRIAR. LIFT BRIDGE.

Patented Dec. '17,

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L. M. FRIAR. LIFT BRIDGE.

Patented Dec. 17, 1889.

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L. PRIAR.

. LIFT BRIDGE. N0. 417,481. Patented Dec. 17, 188

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LATHARO M. FRIAR, OF ROCHESTER, NEIV YORK.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,481, dated December 17, 1889.

Application filed May 2, 1889. Serial No. 309,401. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LATHARO M. FRIAR, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a certain new and usefullmprovement in Lift-Bridges; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the drawings accompanying this application.

My improvement relates to lift-bridges used over canals, and capable'of being raised to allow the passage of boats, and lowered again to allow ordinary travel on the street.

The invention consists in combining with the bridge a set of staircases which operate automatically with the bridge, being elevated out of the way of ordinary travel when the bridge is lowered, and lowered to enable pedestrians to pass over when the bridge is raised.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the structure, showing the bridge lowered and the stairs raised. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, looking in the direction of the arrow at the right in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of one of the staircases in line x 0001": Fig. 2. Fig. 4; is a rear face view of one of the swinging staircases, a portion of the lining being broken away. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are enlarged crosssections of one of the staircases, showing various modifications in the construction of the same to facilitate the sliding of the stairs up and down. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of one of the side pieces of the stairs. Fig. 9 is a view of one of the trusses under the bridge.

A indicates the framing or truss work erected over the canal, and B is the liftbri'dge, said parts being of the usual form.

C O are counter-weights at the top of the frame-work, being connected with the bridge by cable or other suitable connections a a, which pass over pulleys b band are arranged in the usual way. The bridge slightly overbalances the weights, so as to keep in its depressed position, except when power is applied to raise it.

D D are inclined'stair cases or ways at- .independent platform above described.

tached to the frame A and extending over and beyond the tow-path c.

E E are stairs which rest and slide in the ways. These stairs are of usual form, consisting of side pieces dd and steps f f. They are connected with the bridge B by means of cables or other connections 9 g, which are attached at'one end to the upper end of the stairs and at the other to the top of the bridge, said cables passing over pulleys h h. By this means when the bridge is lowered, as shown in full lines, Fig. 1, the stairs will be drawn up, as indicated in full lines in Figs. 2 and 3, leaving free space beneath them for the passage of pedestrians across the sidewalk of the bridge; but when the bridge is raised to allow the passage of a boat then the stairs will be lowered to the sidewalk, and persons can ascend and pass over the bridge in its elevated position or over an independent platform'F, which is a permanent attachment to the frame, as shown in Fig. 1. At the head of the stairs, when so lowered, is a landing 't', which connects with the bridge or with the In some cases, especially if the permanent platform is used, the landing may be dispensed with and the platform extend over the towpath clear to the stairs.

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 show diiferent forms of the staircases to allow easy action of the stairs in sliding up and down. In Fig. 5 the stairs are provided with an axle 7c and two wheels j j, which latter run on flanges Z Z of the casing. One of these wheels is double-flanged and the other single-flanged, as shown. One set of axle and wheels is used near the top and another near the bottom of the stairs. The side pieces of the stairs are provided with boxes m, in which the axle rests, and an oil-tube n, which leads down to the boxes to allow the ready insertion of oil. Fig. 6 shows the stairs resting between two flanges of the casing, and Fig. 7 shows the side pieces of the stairs grooved at one edge and sliding on ribs of the casing. The bottoms of the side pieces are also scalloped or concaved at intervals, as shown in Fig. 8, to decrease friction 011 the ways.

E are swinging stairs pivoted at o to the frame A, so as to be turned up and down and connected with the bridge by cables or other connections g 9', attached at one end to the outer end of the stairs and at the other to the bridge, said cables passing around pulleys h h. hen the bridge is down, the stairs are elevated, and when the bridge is raised they are depressed and stand in an inclined position to allow persons to pass up and down to cross the bridge or the permanent platform. These swing-stairs are of especial service on the side opposite from the tow-path, as they occupy less space than the sliding stairs, and are frequently located in places where it would be dilficult to locate the sliding stairs. The stair-ways on both sides are provided with suit-able railings p p.

The swinging stairs E are attached to projecting beams r r by means of square-shouldered bearings s s, bolted to the beams, and the pulleys that support the several cables are also attached to projecting arms 1* r r at the top of the frame A. Fig. 1 shows in dotted lines the bridge partially raised. and the swinging stairs partially lowered. Both the sliding and swinging stairs are provided on the back with a curtain or lining t, Fig. 4, of sheet metal or other suitable material, to obscure the person who ascends, and the swinging stairs are preferably provided with diagonal cross-braces a a for stiffening and strengthening the stairs. Preferably the several cables or connections a a g g g g are attached to the tops of metallic rods 0 n, attached to the bridge and extending above the center of the frame A.

The great advantage of the sliding stairways is that they extend over and beyond the tow-path, and when elevated leave a clear passage under the stairs to the bridge, the person simply passing through an open frame. The swinging stairs at the opposite end allow a more direct passage to and from the bridge as there is no tow-path on that side.

Fig. 9 shows trusses 1010 on the under side of the bridge, extending transversely. Flat weights 6 care attached to these trusses when desired to weight the bridge, and the rods 1; o are attached to the weights.

J, Fig. 1, shows an arm located above the swinging staircase E, and provided with a brace, said arm serving as a stay to hold the stairway in a stiff position when elevated.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a lift-bridge, the combination of the supporting-frame, the bridge movable up and down therein, a stairway capable of being raised and lowered, and a cable or connection connecting at one end with the bridge and at the other with the stairs, whereby when the bridge is raised the stairs are lowered, and vice versa, as herein shown and described.

2. In a lift-bridge, the combination of the supporting-frame, the bridge movable up and down therein, an inclined staircasing, a stairway sliding up and down therein, and cables connecting the stairway with the bridge, whereby the stairway is automatically raised and lowered by the bridge, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a lift-bridge, the combination of the supporting-frame, the bridge movable up and down therein, a sliding stairway at one end of the bridge, a swinging stairway at the other end of the bridge, and cables connecting said stairwayswith the bridge, whereby they are raised and lowered automatically by the movements of the bridge, as herein shown and described.

In witness whereof,I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LATI-IARO M. FRIAR. IVitnesses:

R. F. Oseoon, Z. L. DAVIS. 

